new mercies for a new day

Praying to the Saints

Question: So I was taught by a Catholic friend, that asking the saints to pray for you is the same as asking your friend to pray for you. Is that a different opinion? How do you feel about that?

Answer: Praying to the saints has several problems. First of all, it assumes that some human beings have attained a better status than others. The Bible clearly teaches that we come to God by grace, not by our own merits. Second, it assumes that saints are focused on what’s happening on earth, when in fact they are worshiping Jesus. Third, it assumes that we have to go through someone else in order to get to Jesus. When Jesus died on the cross, he opened the way for us into God’s throne-room. Our prayers can have the same effect as any other person’s. Finally, we are told to ask other believers (who are alive) to pray for us.